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The Khasis of Meghalaya have a rich tradition of storytelling and one of the most popular stories revolve around U-Thlen, a malicious man-eating serpent. For most people, the tale of U-Thlen is nothing more than a myth or a horror story. Yet, in some Khasi households, the fear of U-Thlen is very real and exists, to this date.
Khasi Lore- U-Thlen - part 1
We find the mention of an evil serpent in the Bible. The serpent possessed by Satan tricked Adam and Eve into eating a forbidden apple, which was a turning point in the history of mankind. Well, a similar malevolent serpent once resided in the wilderness of modern-day Sohra or Cherrapunji (Meghalaya). This serpent is popularly known as U-Thlen, or The Thlen.
The Khasi lore of U-Thlen begins when the ancient village of Langhiang Kongkhen, now Cherrapunji, started reporting bizarre cases of death and missing people. The villagers who went missing were on their way to a popular market which was connected by a bridge. However, to access the bridge, they had to first pass through a series of caves, one of which was the lair of U-Thlen, the evil man-eating serpent. The villagers had no idea where U-Thlen came from. But some say that U-Thlen’s mother, Ka Kma Kharai, was the daughter of the chief God who ruled over the south of Sohra. Ka Kma Kharai lived the life of a harlot and was denounced as an evil deity. She was cursed with an illegitimate son, in the form of a deformed demon, whose mere sight disgusted her father so much, Ka Kma Kharai had to leave her house with her son.
When she reached north Sohra, she came across a series of caves and it was there that she decided to abandon her son. However, before leaving, she wished that her son would feed on the flesh of humans, whom she despised because of how they treated her throughout her life. That is how U-Thlen grew up, taking the form of a giant serpent and feeding upon humans who crossed his lair. However, it was believed that U-Thlen only attacked those groups of people, who travelled in odd numbers. But even then, there was no guarantee and the fear was deep among the natives, who had to take the risk of losing their lives just to cross the caves and reach the other side.
When the villagers finally had enough of U-Thlen, they approached U-Suidnoh, a loner who was not afraid of the demon serpent. U-Suitnoh devised a plan to bring U-Thlen down and end his terror. He approached the malicious serpent regularly and befriended him by feeding him the meat of pigs and goats. U-Thlen soon developed a taste for the free meat and in this way, he also began to trust U-Suidnoh.
One day, U-Suidnoh called out U-Thlen, informing him that he brought his food. Excitedly, U-Thlen approached U-Suidnoh and opened his big mouth. At that precise moment, U-Suidnoh shoved a burning piece of iron in the serpent’s giant mouth. U-Thlen thrashed in pain, struggling for life but he ultimately succumbed to his death.
The place adjacent to where he resided and later collapsed is believed to be the same spot where the Dain-Thlen waterfall is located today. The name literally means the place where ‘Thlen was cut’ and so the existence of this waterfall gives some validity to the mythology of U-Thlen.
When U-thlen collapsed, the entire village came rushing to celebrate their victory. U-Suidnoh warned that the demonic snake might regenerate if its body was left untouched. He suggested that they should eat every last piece of U-Thlen's body, to prevent him from coming back. So, the villagers got to work, cutting the gigantic body of U-Thlen, distributing pieces of meat to one another and making sure, that no part of him was left behind.
An elderly woman, took a piece of meat home to save for his grandson. She kept the meat in a container but being an old woman with weak memory, she forgot about the meat.
Many days passed and the village continued to enjoy their freedom and peace, following the death of U-Thlen. But no one knew that a strange event was already unfolding at the old woman’s house, who continue to remain ignorant of her grave mistake.
Finally, one day, the old woman heard a deep voice from inside her container: “Let me live again and I shall make you wealthy and rich”.
The Old woman realized what this meant. U-Thlen was back. And with this realization, began the legends of Thlen (snake) keepers and subsequently, the Nongshohnoh that are still relevant today.
When U-thlen collapsed, the entire village came rushing to celebrate their victory. U-Suidnoh warned that the demonic snake might regenerate if its body was left untouched. He suggested that they should eat every last piece of U-Thlen's body, to prevent him from coming back. So, the villagers got to work, cutting the gigantic body of U-Thlen, distributing pieces of meat to one another and making sure, that no part of him was left behind.
An elderly woman, took a piece of meat home to save for his grandson. She kept the meat in a container but being an old woman with weak memory, she forgot about the meat.
Many days passed and the village continued to enjoy their freedom and peace, following the death of U-Thlen. But no one knew that a strange event was already unfolding at the old woman’s house, who continue to remain ignorant of her grave mistake. Finally, one day, the old woman heard a deep voice from inside her container: “Let me live again and I shall make you wealthy and rich”.
The Old woman realized what this meant. U-Thlen was back. And with this realization, began the legends of Thlen (snake) keepers and subsequently, the Nongshohnoh that are still relevant today.
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